I'm a Trucker and in my travels it seems that the link systems are about the only place anything is going on.... I can't tell you how many areas I've been where you open the repeater book, find a bunch of local machines and can't hear or raise a peep out of anyone . On the other hand linked systems like the Win System in California seems to have traffic all the time. Steve ke7ihg
On Nov 25, 2007 9:35 AM, Naber, Benjamin L. SPC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > Tony, et al > > I read through many of the comments everyone has posted, all equally > reasonable, and justifiable. I would like to comment on this. > > Back in 2004, June QST or somewhere around that time, a Correspondence > article was published by the ARRL entitled "Use what we have." To this day, > I will make the stand that by going off that statement is what saved my club > from getting disbanded. I don't remember all what I wrote, but I do remember > that my point was to do just exactly that - use what we have. > > In my home area in the Black Hills of South Dakota we have three VHF > repeaters, now all linked together and a South Dakota State Link that ties > users from the west side of the state tying in several repeaters making to > someplace in Minnesota. The local repeaters got more use and the link was > active when my voice was on it making some noise or the area's special ham > that likes to throw his call out at 3AM or... kerchunck them. Everyone does > it, although not very often so there's no reason to make a huge fuss. > > The guys around the area have an evening weather net around 2100hrs on the > state link and on the local repeaters in the areas to help keep activity on > the machines and let be known the system does exist. > > The state link is a wonderful but under used system because of statements > that have already been said, and at the same time reverse has been said. The > other side was said as well, is that there could be too many machines in the > local area. > > Not everyone will have their radios on scan as I do, most seem to have a > favorite spot for their group of friends and be happy with it. > > We had a small ordeal a few years back about the VHF repeaters and the > possible complete removal of them and came to quite the bit of controversy. > It was mentioned there were too many repeaters for the area, given the local > ham populous of about 200 and it may have been the reason for little > activity. > > From what I see, it all boils down to this. Everyone is going to have > whatever they like, repeaters and stuff will come and go, but the two main > things are these, and these only - Let us use what we have and always be > encouraging others to get on the air - new comers, soon to be licensed and > those that haven't keyed the mic in a while. Ask them to press the button > and make some noise. That's what we came to do in the first place. > > ~Benjamin, KB9LFZ > > ________________________________ > > From: [email protected] on behalf of Tony L. > Sent: Wed 21-Nov-07 18:59 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Usage of Linked Repeater Systems vs. Stand > Alone Repeaters > > Our club operates a RF full-time linked repeater system in metro New > York City, currently comprised of four (4) repeaters. We've observed > that the addition of a new repeater into the system doesn't always > equate to added usage. In fact, we've noticed that many of the linked > systems in metro NYC typically aren't as busy as local area stand alone > systems. > > We're puzzled as to why people seem to shy away from most, but not all, > of the very wide coverage area systems. The busiest repeaters in our > area seem to be the "no frills" stand alones. Are voice IDs, courtesy > tones, and coverage footprints beyond a 25-mile radius just more than > people can handle nowadays? > > Comments anyone? > > -- KE7IHG
